For many people, there is no greater joy than a trek down a mountain trail, just to be part of nature and escape from the bustle of suburbia.

Hundreds make the pilgrimage to Northeast Georgia every weekend to hike along the celebrated Appalachian Trail or the many other popular destinations in the region.

What a shame it is that the enjoyment of the great outdoors has been ruined for many as a result of the tragic murder a week ago today of 24-year-old Meredith Emerson of Buford, who disappeared while hiking with her dog on New Year's Day at Vogel State Park near Blairsville.

Authorities have charged Gary Michael Hilton, a 61-year-old drifter, with kidnapping Emerson and then bludgeoning her to death at Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area three days later.

It's tough to wrap our minds around this kind of tragedy, a type of crime one perhaps expects to happen in a urban, big city setting, not in a tranquil spot like Vogel State Park or Dawson Forest.

"I think people who don't hike believe there's something to fear out in the wild, when it's actually a thousand times more dangerous in the city," said Paige Perkins, a Chamblee woman and frequent hiker.

Since Hilton's arrest, stories have been filtering out that he had been known to hikers and Forest Service rangers. Hikers reported having had encounters with Hilton that made them nervous.

Most often, when hikers think about safety it is what to do when encountering bears on the trail. Now, many hikers' thoughts are turning to how to deal with potentially dangerous strangers. The leader of at least one hiking group has reported interest from women wanting to join because they now are scared to hike alone.

If we aren't safe in the tranquil mountains, are we safe anywhere, even walking our dog?

It is always a good idea for all of us to be vigilant about our surroundings, whether we are walking down the street, across a mall parking lot or along a mountain trail. But Brian King, spokesman for the organization that takes care of the Appalachian Trail, said criminals are rare even along that popular trail. In the past 34 years, only eight people have been murdered along the AT, meaning the chances of being killed on the trail about 1 in 15 million, King said.

But even one, such as the death of Emerson, is a tragedy. And this tragedy has gripped the nation.
An online guestbook viewable at Legacy.com has been filled with nearly 200 pages of condolences from strangers from across the nation who have been touched by her tragic death. Many share their love for nature and animals, pledging to make donations to a local animal shelter in Meredith Emerson's name.

Other notes are from fellow hikers, many who hike the Blood Mountain area, who are disturbed that this tragedy could happen in such a beautiful place. Still others say they now will always feel a kinship or connection to Emerson when they are hiking in the mountains.

"When you hear the wind rustling through the Colorado Aspens or whispering high above in the tall Pines of the Appalachians, this is Meredith's voice speaking to us all. Nature will give her peace," wrote Cameron Jackson of Athens.

We join these hundreds in sending our deepest sympathies to Emerson's family and friends. We hope her family can find some peace in the knowledge that their daughter's tragedy has so strongly affected so many. And perhaps that may save lives as other hikers become more vigilant themselves walking those lonely trails.